CHENNAI: Bursting of crackers will be permitted only for two hours — from 6am to 7am and from 7pm to 8pm, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has announced, urging residents to use only low-emission green crackers and celebrate in designated open spaces.In an official release, govt reiterated that the two-hour window has been being practised since 2018. To ensure strict compliance, the TNPCB has roped in the school and higher education departments, the MSME department, state police, municipal corporations and collectors. Awareness drives detailing environmental and health hazards of fireworks are being conducted across all districts through schools, colleges, the National Green Corps, eco-clubs, and voluntary organizations.District collectors have been asked to enforce the Supreme Court mandate for green crackers at the local level. “Resident welfare associations (RWAs) should obtain prior permission from district administrations or local bodies to organize community cracker-bursting in open grounds. People must refrain from bursting high-decibel, continuous-bursting joined crackers, and avoid bursting crackers near hospitals, places of worship, and designated silence zones,” the release said, urging people to stay clear of hutments and fire-prone areas while lighting fireworks.
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